Founded in 1966 by Piero Ambrogio Busnelli, the B&B Italia house of design diffuses a pure “made in Italy” savoir-faire that combines technological innovation with contemporary artistic creation. A creed that’s resulted in being them awarded the Compasso d’Oro prize – for the fourth time –, one of the most important international design prizes.
Understated and refined design has become the trademark of B&B Italia, established north of Milan on a site conceived by Italian and British architects Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers in 1972 – the brains behind the Pompidou Centre no less. Offering interior pieces while developing research in materials for exterior designs, the house has released an eclectic catalogue from which Numéro now shares its favourites...
“It’s as if it’s a surface, a model by Mobius.” That’s how designer Piero Lissoni characterises his work Eda-Mame, a versatile piece of furniture in the shape of a bean that’s more than able to define an entire room by itself.
Stylistic innovation is key at B&B Italia and they enjoy miniaturising architectural concepts, like the Alanda coffee table created by Paolo Piva, the Austrian-Italian architect whose 1980s piece that resembles a group of inversed pyramids was re-issued this year.
B&B Italia present the Tobi-Ishi table by Barber & Osgerby, in a direct reference to the polished stones used to embellish traditional Japanese gardens. This piece also comes as a low version in cement, an alternative that highlights its sculptural and matterist aspect.
But if B&B Italia really focus on one issue, it’s that of space. The house looks above all to creating spaces where the surface area doesn’t need to be reduced, which is why the shapes and curves are all so carefully studied. The chairs, armchairs and ottomans by Antonio Citterio have a more enveloping form, continuing the Caratos series all while referring to historically artisanal techniques: “Caratos is an absolutely contemporary product that brings out the memory of certain 20th century objects”, explains the designer, “they recall bronze, thanks to the “full” matte finish, that absorbs the light, and the high quality nature of the upholstery leather harks back to the idea of saddlery.”
